Herd joins Kailua-Kona office
KAILUA-KONA — Dr. Eddie Herd, a pediatrician formerly at Alii Health in Keauhou, has joined the pediatric practice of Drs. Marta Derieg and Virginia Hatch-Pigott in Kailua-Kona.
Hospitals and healthcare groups are scrambling to remain financially viable in the ever-changing healthcare market. After Dr. Herd’s 11 years of service to the West Hawaii community, Alii Health is reducing their primary care services.
“The doctor shortage in Hawaii is critical, and the Big Island’s shortage is the worst among the islands,” said Hatch-Pigott. “We were terrified at the prospect of losing a good doctor to another community. Dr. Derieg and I are delighted to welcome Dr. Herd into our practice.”
According to Kelley Withy, a researcher at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, Hawaii is short 700 doctors short, and the deficit is steadily worsening.
Not only is this new partnership beneficial in keeping Herd in the community – joining the practice will help keep it viable. Physicians in private practice are not only providing medical care to the community, they are running small businesses with ever-increasing overhead without the resources of a hospital or healthcare group.
The group was started by Dr. Bob Laird, who was the first pediatrician on the Kona Coast. He was hired by Kona Coast Medical Group in February 1978. In 1982, the group disbanded and Laird went out on his own, setting up practice in the old Gomes House on Alii Drive.
Herd’s patients are now being seen at the office in Hillside Plaza, 76-6225 Kuakini Highway, Suite C-101 in Kailua-Kona.
Info: 329-7067.
Cipriano chef
of Nui Italian
WAIKOLOA — Hilton Waikoloa Village appointed Gino Cipriano as chef of Nui Italian. The restaurant, which opened on Sept. 13, combines Italian dishes with local ingredients.
Cipriano crafts authentic Italian cuisine at the restaurant and brings more than 25 years of culinary experience from around the world. Cipriano, a native of Italy, spent the start of his career exploring the nuances of Italian cuisine, serving in resorts from Venice and Florence to Taormina and Rome. He continued his career in both Paris and the U.S. at notable resort restaurants in Miami and San Francisco. Most recently, Cipriano served as executive chef of ClubCorp in Marvin, North Carolina.
Info: 886-1234.
New York-style pizzeria opens
KAILUA-KONA — Kona Crust is a New York-style pizza joint located in the Kona Coast Shopping Center off Palani Road. A new arrival to the island, the take-out/dine-in setting serves pizza by the pie or slice, garlic knots, bottled water and fountain soda from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Kona Crust food items — made from the same flour, sauce and cheese its proprietors used back in New York City — can also be ordered online at KonaCrust.com or via the company’s app available on Android and iPhone.
